Gemotions

The invitation sat amidst a pile of promotional flyers, screaming for attention. Maria grabbed it and quickly tossed it aside. She had no interest in seeing anyone from those years again. A sudden pressure seemed to build behind her eyes, a tightness she hadn’t felt in years.

Later, as she was preparing dinner, the memory returned. She stopped stirring the pot. The scent of onions no longer mattered. She had an irrational urge to run, to leave the house, to escape the creeping feeling that threatened to consume her.

She picked up the phone and dialed her sister's number, needing to connect, to ground herself in the safe harbor of the present. Her voice was thin. She needed something to calm the unease.